Gate latch and holder.



110.854.1913. .PATENTBD MAY21,1-907.

J. BBTTS.

GATE LATCH AND HOLDER. ArztIdu-m! nun inn. s, 1906.

JOSEPH BETTS, OF WINTERSET, IOWA.

GATE LATCH AND HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed September 5, 1906. Serial No. 333,723.

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JosnPH BETTs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winter set, in the county of Madison and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Gate Latch and Holder, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction designed to be applied to gates for the purpose of forming an automatic latch to automatically hold the gate in its closed position and also to provide a holder by which the operator may quickly and easily secure the gate in any position throughout its movement by projecting a pointed extension on the gate latch into the ground surface.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whioh Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a gate and a gate post provided with my improved latchand holder, the gate being shown partially open. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of a part of a gate with my device applied. thereto, the pointed projection on the latch being shown extended into the ground, and Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of the gate and adjacent portions of a fence with my improved gate latch and holder in position to hold the gate closed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral to indicate the post to which the gate is to b hinged.

The gate is indicated by the numeral 11 and maybe of any ordinary construction and connected by hinges 12 to the gate post. The post at the other side of the gate is indicated by the numeral 13 and also may be of any ordinary construction. Fixed to the gate post is a keeper 14 having an inclined outer, upper shoulder 15 and a notch 16 to receive a gate latch.

The latch proper comprises a straight bar 17 extended from a point at the top of the gate to a point near the lower end thereof and having at its upper end a right angled handle 18, the lower end of said rod is pointed at 19. This rod is arranged so that it may have a free rotary movement and also a free up and down movement. Near its upper end is a guide loop 20 secured to the post to receive the rod and a similar guide loop 21 is provided near its lower end. At about the center of the rod is a guide plate 22 having a vertical slot 23 in its outer face, said slot being too narrow to permit the rod to move through it. Fixed to the rod 17 is a latch bar. 24 extended at right angles to the rod and capable when in one position of moving up and down through the slot 23. Fixed to the gate adjacent to the plate 22 is a sup porting arm 25 extended outwardly away from the gate and then upwardly adjacent to the rod 17, said arm being designed to hold the latch 24 against turning movements and yet to permit it to move up and down freely far enough to allow it to move upwardly over the inclined shoulder 15 and drop in the latch 16 of thekeeper 14.

In practical use and assuming the parts to be arranged, as shown in Fig. 3, it is obvious that the gate is firmly held by the latch 24 in the keeper 1.4. Furthermore the handle 18 also serves as a brace to prevent the gate from. moving past the post 13. If it is desired to open the gate, the operator grasps the handle 18 and elevates it enough to permit the latch 24 to clear the keeper 14. Then the gate may freely swing open and the latch 24 will drop by gravity until it rests upon the arm 25. Then when the gate is swung to a closed position, the said latch will engage the said shoulder 15 and drop in the notch 16, thus automatically latching the gate.

If it is desired to hold the gate stationary when some distance from the post 13, as for instance when in a Wide open position, the operator grasps the handle 18 and operates the rod 17 until the latch 24 moves above the arm 25. Then the handle 18 is moved to position at right angles to the gate, whereupon the latch 24 may move downwardly through theslot 23, thus permitting the point 19 to enter the ground, as shown in Fig. 2. A very slight pressure by the operator will force the rod into the ground far enough to securely hold the gate. In order to again close the gate, it is only necessary to grasp I claim and desire to-secure by Letters Patent of the United States, therefor is- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a latch supporting arm, a gate latch slidingly and detachably connected with the latch supporting arm, a rod connected with the gate latch and held in an elevated position by the latch supporting arm when the latch is in engagement therewith and capable of being projected downwardly below the gate to which the device is attached when the latch is detached from the latch supporting arm and a keeper for the latch.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rod, means for slidingly and detachably connecting it with a gate, a latch fixed to the rod and a latch supporting arm to be fixed to a gate and shaped to hold the rod in an elevated position and the latch in an operative position and also capable of permitting the latch to be withdrawn upwardly from engagement with the latch supporting arm so that the rod may be projected downwardly and a keeper for the latch.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a rod having a pointed lower end and a handle at its upper end, a guide plate for the rod having a vertical slot there in, a latch fixed to "the rod and capable of moving downwardly through the slot in the guide, a latch supporting arm for supporting the latch, said latch supporting arm open at its top to permit the latch to be withdrawn therefrom and a keeper for the latch.

JOSEPH BETTS.

Witnesses:

G. W'. ENGENBRIGHT, J. H. FUNK. 

